SeaTech Solutions to design Nautilus seabed mining vessel

Computer rendition of Nautilus mining vessel in production mode

NOVEMBER 12, 2014 — Singapore based marine designs specialist SeaTech Solutions International (S) Pte Ltd is to perform the basic design for the seabed mining vessel that Marine Assets Corporation (MAC) is to charter to Nautilus Minerals Inc. (TSX:NUS, OTCQX: NUSMF) for use at the Solwara 1 Project off Papua New Guinea (see earlier story).

The vessel will be built at Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Ltd., China.

SeaTech Solutions says the 227 m by 40 m vessel will be a 30 MW diesel-electric driven, completely outfitted and equipped offshore construction vessel (OCV) for worldwide use. It will be Tier III compliant and able to work in and transport through ECA areas.

It will be ABS DPS 2 EHS F dynamically positioned and will be fitted out with two main cranes,  a 200 t AHC subsea crane and a100 t ship-to-ship crane.

The vessel will be equipped for seafloor resource production, onboard ore storage and other related duties. It will be stationed over the allocated area and support Seafloor Production Equipment (SPE), such as specialized seafloor production tools (SPTs): and a riser and lifting system (RALS) comprising a subsea pump, riser system and associated handling systems.

The vessel will have ore storage holds arranged amidships and will be equipped with a completely enclosed cargo handling system which will transfer the ore directly to any hold and from the holds to incoming handy size bulk carriers for export.

Meeting ABS Comfort Class notation, the vessel will be able to accommodate 180 people. The bridge deck will be arranged to meet the requirements of the ABS class notation for offshore vessels and suitable for unrestricted operation.

The newbuild will be chartered to Nautilus for a minimum period of five years at a rate of US$199,910 per day, with options to either extend the charter or purchase the vessel at the end of the five-year period.